Waiting. It’s difficult in the best of circumstances. It’s even harder when dealing with multiple sources of delay. For example: it has been unseasonably cool around here for a few months. Looking at the US weather maps, it looks like we’ve got just about the coolest temperatures in the lower 48. September is usually reliably a month where you don’t need the furnace in these here parts, but that’s not the case now. A slowly moving weather system has blocked the sun for days and our poor old house just can’t warm up. I feel like Noah waiting for some sign of hope. The weather apps all say, “oh, two or three more days…” Endurance, I remind myself. Stoicism. Still, we need some sun about now. But that’s not all.
In addition to wearing three heavy layers and my fingerless gloves (in September—and this will last until May!), I’m also doing my prep for a colonoscopy. In case it’s been a while—that means a liquid diet for a day. I need to wait until this time tomorrow to have anything to eat and my teeth are on edge because the allowable fluids tend to be sweet and I really need something salty with a bit of crunch about now. I see I’m allowed ice pops. But did I mention that it’s cold in here? If it were a normal year at least one of these two things wouldn’t been an issue at this point in time. Nobody that I know of looks forward to a colonoscopy. I know I’ll barely sleep tonight and the whole situation ends up looking downright Dickensian. Chilly, hungry, persistent rain. All I really need at a time like this is just some indication that the following days might improve. Don’t look to the Weather Channel for support. No, rely on your Stoicism. Endure.
The trick I usually use on myself is to dangle a small carrot—lunch will be in just three hours!—to get through a long, chilly day. (You’ll be able to eat something hot…) I suppose giving up caffeinated beverages a few years back (when the last colonoscopy was well forgotten), might’ve been a poor decision. I sure could use a Thermos of coffee right about now. And one of those solar headbands that tricks you into believing you’re getting some sun. Hey, September’s my second favorite month, after October, so shouldn’t waiting be just a smidge easier? I’ve been waiting for September since last November. And still I wait. Such is the human lot in life. Endurance is important, I know. But a peek of sunshine (haven’t seen anything like it for three days) in September—is that too much to ask? Or at least a hot meal. What would Zeno do? (Of course, he did live in sunny Greece…)
